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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Clarion-Ledger editorial again weighs in on redistricting, and where the legislative process currently stands

Today's Clarion-Ledger has an editorial on redistricting, which I believe fairly sums up the situation. In it, they say that Republicans want the courts to draw new maps (true) and that Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant (R) prevented the Senate from voting on a compromise plan sent over by the House late in the session (also true). Here's the money quote:

So, out of this whole dysfunctional, partisan mess, (Rep. Tommy) Reynolds and (Sen. Terry) Burton are attempting to salvage an agreement.

That is exactly what is happening, with more than a little help from other legislators of both parties. The editorial goes on to call on Speaker Billy McCoy (D-Rienzi) to approve whatever compromise Reynolds and Burton work out, and for Lt. Gov. Bryant to allow a vote. All indications are that Speaker McCoy is all for the compromise maps that are floating around right now, and that Lt. Gov. Bryant may be ready to fold his tent on this issue. We shall see.

Some say that Gov. Haley Barbour has to first agree to call a special session. I don't see Gov. Barbour as being willing to stand in the way if an agreement is reached. It just doesn't pay any dividends for him politically to do so.

1 comment:

The first time I became aware of Terry Burton was at some point about ten years ago, when he was (as far as I know) the only member of the Mississippi State Legislature who was aware of the diploma mill problem that was beginning to emerge in this state. Then I got into liberal activism and obviously found him to be on the other side of the aisle on pretty much everything.

What he's doing right now is a profile in courage—the behavior of a Republican who does not want to take a Bilbo/Vardaman approach to redistricting, and who believes that being a Republican doesn't mean blindly following the instructions of the highest-ranking demagogue within earshot. I won't agree with Terry Burton often, but I'm going to have to respect him from now on.

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Cottonmouth was started by John Wesley Leek and was handed off to Matt Eichelberger in January of 2011. David McDowell joined as an author in January of 2013. In August of 2013, Kate Jacobson Dutro and Ryan Brown joined the Cottonmouth team, bringing the number of authors to four.

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